TWO bodies found beside the Grand Canal at Inchicore in west Dublin yesterday are believed to be of a mother-of-two and a man, both of whom were believed to have had severe drug addiction problems.

Gardai would not reveal the suspected cause of death yesterday and autopsies are due to be carried out today.

The remains were spotted by people walking beside the canal at the Suir Road and Luas bridge at midday yesterday.

While the cause of death was not known, gardai said it initially appeared the two may have been sitting by the canal after having taken drugs and succumbed to the sub-zero overnight temperatures.

Local people said the banks of the canal beside the Anne Devlin bridge were often frequented by people taking drink and drugs.

The identities of the two were also being withheld until all next of kin were informed.

It is understood the woman is aged 30 and has two children aged 12 and nine and lived in Tallaght. She was frequently before Dublin District Court on larceny and minor criminal charges.

The court heard she was unable to control her heroin addiction and was unable to pay fines imposed for the offences.

It is understood that one of the bodies had slipped partially into the canal and the other was found on the bank.

Gardai said one of the main causes of difficulties with addicts in the cold weather was the fact that many are supplementing their heroin intake with tranquillisers and sleeping pills and this causes them to become dormant.

These tablets are being sold in large quantities in and around Dublin city centre.

After visiting the city centre addiction clinics where they receive methadone they often "top up" on the street-traded sedatives.

One garda source yesterday said it appeared that the couple found dead at the canal may not have been able to reach home in Tallaght and succumbed to drugs and cold.